Freelance Medical Device Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Austco Healthcare Austco Healthcare (ASX: AHC) is a globally distributed provider of clinical communication and workflow solutions, serving hospitals, nursing homes, and aged-care facilities across more than 50 countries. Our R&D team develops both hardware and software products that improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of clinical teams. As we enter a new phase of growth, we are investing in AI-enabled engineering to accelerate our development capability and product innovation. The Opportunity This is a pivotal role for Austco Healthcare. As our first dedicated AI Software Engineer, you will lead the adoption and integration of AI-powered tools across our R&D function. You will work hands-on with our engineering, software development, and verification and validation (V&V) teams to embed practical AI capabilities into their daily workflows, and help establish the foundations for a scalable, AI-enabled engineering culture. This is not a research role. We are looking for someone who can act, build, and lead; someone who bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI tooling and the practical realities of developing regulated medical device software. Key Responsibilities AI Tooling and Integration • Evaluate, implement, and champion AI-assisted development tools (such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, and LLM-based code assistants) across the software engineering team. • Build internal tools and workflows that leverage large language models (LLMs) to accelerate software development, code review, documentation, and testing. • Identify and pilot AI use cases in V&V processes, including automated test generation, requirements traceability, and defect analysis. • Identify and pilot AI use cases in QA (regulatory) processes, including automated requirements traceability and workflow improvements. R&D AI Leadership • Act as the primary AI subject matter expert within R&D, guiding the team on best practices, emerging tools, and responsible AI adoption. • Develop and deliver internal training and upskilling programs to lift AI literacy and capability across the broader engineering team. • Partner with the Head of R&D and CTO to define and execute the AI adoption roadmap for the R&D function. • Champion responsible AI practices within R&D, including transparency of AI-assisted outputs. • Contribute to internal guidelines for appropriate AI tool use, ensuring decisions made or supported by AI remain auditable and explainable. • Stay informed on emerging regulatory guidance around AI in medical devices and feed relevant developments into Austco's quality and compliance processes. Regulated Software Environment • Ensure AI-assisted processes comply with applicable regulatory standards, including IEC 62304 (medical device software lifecycle) and relevant quality management requirements. • Work with the quality and regulatory team to document AI tool usage within the software development lifecycle (SDLC) in a manner consistent with regulatory submissions. Collaboration and Innovation • Collaborate closely with hardware and firmware engineers to identify cross-disciplinary AI applications. • Stay current with developments in AI and machine learning and proactively assess their relevance to Austco's product and R&D strategy. • Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the R&D team. Skills and Experience Essential • Demonstrated experience as a software engineer with a strong foundation in Python and at least one additional language (C++, C#, or JavaScript preferred). • Hands-on experience integrating LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar) into real software engineering workflows, not just prototypes. • Practical experience with AI-assisted developer tooling and the ability to evaluate and implement new tools rapidly. • Track record of coaching or mentoring technical peers; able to translate complex AI concepts into accessible, practical guidance. Able to train small and larger teams in best practices. • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical approaches clearly for both engineering and regulatory audiences. Highly Desirable • Familiarity with regulated software development environments, including IEC 62304, IEC 62443, UL 1069, or equivalent standards. • Experience working in medical devices, healthcare technology, or other safety-critical industries. • Exposure to automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices. • Experience developing AI-assisted tools for V&V, requirements management, or software quality assurance. • Relevant tertiary qualification in software engineering, computer science, or a related discipline. What We Offer • A genuinely high-impact role at a company investing seriously in AI-enabled engineering. • The opportunity to shape the AI strategy and culture of an ASX-listed global healthcare technology company. • A collaborative and supportive R&D team with deep domain expertise. • Competitive remuneration package, including equity participation where appropriate. • Flexible working arrangements, with the option to work remotely or from one of our Australian offices. • Ongoing professional development support and access to the latest AI tools and platforms. If you are a software engineer who is passionate about AI adoption and wants to lead a meaningful transition in a regulated, mission-driven industry, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience with AI tooling and your approach to up-skilling technical teams.